Self-Care Practice among Diabetic Patients Type (II) and Its Determinants in Outpatient Clinics

Abstract

Background: Diabetes is a serious health problem. Patients must be actively involved in their care. Self-care management means actions or activities taken by patients to care themselves within their environmental condition. This study aimed to identify self-care practice among diabetic patients type (II) and its determinants. Subjects and Method: Study design: Descriptive correlational study. Setting: Diabetic outpatient clinics of the Main Alexandria University Hospital. Subjects: A convenient sample consisted of 250 diabetic patients type (II). Tools of data collection: Knowledge and practice questionnaires about self-care management were used to collect our data. Results: The current study proved that most diabetic patients type (II) (≥ 90 %) had unsatisfactory levels of knowledge and practice regarding diabetic self-care management. A statistically significant difference was shown in patients' age, educational level, ethnicity, diabetes duration, diabetes status regarding their knowledge and practice of diabetic self-care management. Patients' age, sex, level of education, ethnicity, diabetes duration, diabetes status and knowledge were predictor factors of insufficient self-care practice among diabetic patients type (II). Additionally, the present study revealed that there was a positive significant relationship between patients' knowledge and their practice regarding diabetic self-care. Conclusion: Patients' age, sex, education level, ethnicity, diabetes duration, diabetes status and knowledge level were contributing factors affecting the level of self-care practice among diabetic patients type (II) in the present study. Increasing the level of knowledge would lead to good self-care and good diabetic self-care practice among diabetic patients type (II). Recommendations: Close the gap of knowledge and practice among diabetic patients type (II) is needed. Nurses should provide proper health education to their patients for enhancing their knowledge and practice about diabetic self-care management.